The Rundown: Cubs’ Next Move(s), Boras Winning with Short-Term Deals, Giants Still Asking About Hoerner

Just as the rabble about the Cubs’ disappointing offseason was starting to build to a level that was audible even when logged out of social media, Jed Hoyer swung a pair of deals that changed fan reaction to excitement. Even those who don’t particularly love the acquisitions of Edward Cabrera and/or Alex Bregman in their own right have to admit that this change in tack signals a willingness to do what it takes to win. The Cubs spent big from both their farm system and budget to put together a team favored to win the Central before making noise in the postseason.

Having three open spots on the 40-man roster, not to mention Justin Steele possibly starting the season on the 60-day IL and Ryan Rolison possibly being snuck through waivers, tells us Hoyer has more work to do. Of course, being within an estimated $1 million of the first CBT penalty level also tells us any remaining moves are likely to be minimal. Those empty spots weren’t even part of my logic when writing that Tom Ricketts appears to be comfortable going into penalty range, so consider this further evidence.

You can never have enough pitching, so we’ll see some more additions there as the winter wears on. The Cubs recently acquired Corbin Martin and Tyler Beede on minor league deals, and both will have a chance to earn roster spots during spring training. They also signed righty Tyler Ras following a tremendous Tread showcase, though he’s likely ticketed for South Bend or Knoxville.

Quick aside: What’s the deal with Tylers? Not only have they picked up Beede and Ras, but they also signed former Yankees prospect Tyler Austin as a bench bat. Between those guys and Tyler Zombro in the front office, they’re all going to have to use nicknames.

Speaking of the bench, Hoyer could be looking for a little more outfield depth. It seemed as though Rob Refsnyder was a perfect match for what the Cubs needed, but he signed with the Mariners. With only four outfielders on the roster, Kevin Alcántara figures to get a little run as the primary backup to all three spots. After that, however, things get dicey.

Ethan Conrad, their first-round pick from last summer, probably won’t be ready for another couple of years. James Triantos could be an option if Hoyer doesn’t want to sign a guaranteed deal with an outfielder, as their No. 9 prospect is already on the 40-man and has logged over 427 innings between center and left in the minors. MLB Pipeline gives him a 2026 ETA, but using him in the outfield in Chicago feels like more of an emergency move at this point.

Jonathon Long is another possibility, and I’d venture that we see him working in the grass this spring. He’s gotten 180 innings in left over the last two seasons and has a much better path to playing time there now that the Cubs have secured both corner infield spots for the foreseeable future. With Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki both set to become free agents after this year, it makes sense for the club to consider internal replacements.

I could see another small MLB signing for someone who can compete for a bench spot, though I’d say it’s more likely they look to have a competition among non-roster invitees. Perhaps a reunion with Mike Tauchman would work; the Palatine Pounder has excelled as a role player and obviously knows the lay of the land.

Boras Keeps Winning

Like any aging hurler, Scott Boras may have lost his fastball. He has been much less successful when it comes to landing monster contracts, with Juan Soto standing out as the obvious exception because he’s a unicorn. But just as pitchers need to adapt when they can no longer blow it by hitters, Boras has developed a very effective curveball.

Carlos Correa ended up doing fairly well after his free agent odyssey a while back, and Alex Bregman ended up getting $215 million between his lone season in Boston and his new Cubs deal. Cody Bellinger also figures to end up eclipsing $200 million between his next contract and the one he signed with the Cubs that paid him $55 million over two years.

Pete Alonso, Blake Snell, and Matt Chapman also parlayed short-term deals or early opt-outs into long-term security. Betting on yourself doesn’t always pay off, something we saw with Jordan Montgomery in Arizona, but many Boras clients have gotten a nice trampoline effect from shorter deals with higher AAV.

While I’d already been circling this idea following Bregman’s new deal, I have to admit that reading Ken Rosenthal’s recent piece in The Athletic spurred me to write this section.

Giants Have Engaged Cubs on Hoerner

While Yankees content aggregation accounts continue to pump out disinformation regarding the Cubs’ desire to trade Nico Hoerner, the Giants have surfaced yet again as a suitor. A little less than a month after Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle first reported interest in the Bay Area native, Jeff Passan tweeted that the Giants are “aggressively pursuing a second baseman.” He went on to specify that the Giants have been engaged with the Cubs on Hoerner and the Cardinals on Brendan Donovan.

The Cards are actively seeking to unload just about every veteran on the roster — Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and now Nolan Arenado have all been dealt — and Donovan has been mentioned as a possibility to be moved for a while. His $5.8 million salary is half of Hoerner’s, plus he’s got one more year of arbitration eligibility left. While he’s not nearly as strong defensively, Donovan has more pop to go with a similar overall plate approach.

Given their teams’ competitive trajectories, it makes far more sense for the Cardinals to be willing to make a reasonable deal for Donovan. The Cubs, on the other hand, would be stupid to trade Hoerner for anything less than an irresponsible return. But even then, we’re talking about a prospect haul. No contending team is going to part with the kind of impact talent the Cubs would need to get back to maintain their current level of contention should Hoerner be dealt.

We also need to acknowledge the obvious posturing here, as multiple different teams are trying to gain leverage. The Yankees want to pressure Bellinger into accepting less than the seven years he’s seeking, the Giants want to get the best bargain they can find in trade, and the Cubs can sit back comfortably in the knowledge that they don’t need to do anything. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hoerner’s reps are floating trade talks as a way to spur the Cubs into extending him.

I just can’t envision any scenario in which the Cubs are offered a package for Hoerner that makes sense. If we’re talking Triantos, Pedro Ramirez, or even Matt Shaw, that makes a lot more sense. As for the latter, The Athletic’s Keith Law offered up some interesting insight that could color the infielder’s future in Chicago. Law noted Shaw’s “resistance to help from the Cubs’ staff” and his departure from the team to attend Charlie Kirk’s funeral rally, concluding that makeup concerns “make him the ideal person to trade.”

More News and Notes

• Nolan Arenado has been traded to the Diamondbacks, per Passan. John Gambadoro of 98.7 Arizona Sports reported that the Cardinals will receive righty Jack Martinez — Arizona’s eighth-round pick in 2025 — in return, and St. Louis will eat some of Arenado’s remaining salary.
• The Yankees have reportedly offered Bellinger a five-year deal of more than $31-32 million “true” AAV (no deferrals), per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, and they’re also willing to include opt-outs. The trouble is that Boras is pushing for a seven-year pact.
• Will Sammon reported on Tuesday that the Mets have offered Kyle Tucker a three-year deal worth $120-140 million, but such a contract might only appeal in terms of the massive AAV. The Blue Jays and Dodgers are in the mix as well, and at least one of them is surely willing to push past five years. The Mets may also be willing to do a longer term.
• Former minor league pitcher John Mincone tweeted that the Mets have offered Tucker $50 million AAV, adding that a decision between the three teams noted above could be made in the next day or two.
• Mincone, the Cubs’ 11th-round pick in 2009, struck out Mike Trout three times during Arizona League play that year. The lefty pitched only three games in rookie ball, then made six appearances for Low-A Boise in 2010 before a stint with the independent Windy City ThunderBolts in 2011. He then caught on with the Mets and made it to Double-A over four seasons in the minors before concluding his career with the independent Long Island Ducks.
• Update: Robert Murray of FanSided and Jon Heyman of the New York Post have subsequently reported the Mets’ willingness to go to $50 million in AAV for Tucker. Murray called it a “short-term offer,” so we can safely assume it’s for two or three years and could have an opt-out.
• Former Cubs great Génesis Cabrera has signed a minors deal with the Phillies. The lefty reliever made nine appearances for the Cubs, posting an 8.68 ERA over 9.1 innings. He allowed 10 hits, four of which left the yard, before being sent packing. He also pitched for the Mets, Pirates, and Twins in 2025.
• I’ve noted here and elsewhere that the Cubs de-prioritized a Kyle Tucker pursuit for more than just financial reasons, and the Bregman signing seems to underscore that. Tucker is objectively a much better player and he’s about three years younger, so giving him a 10-year, $300 million contract might have made more sense on paper. This organization values leadership and work ethic, and I think some folks have questions about how Tucker stacks up in those areas.

Trailer Time

We’ve seen at least two blockbuster Mummy reboots, both of which lean more heavily into camp and vintage appeal than horror. That will change with Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, which is produced by Blumhouse and James Wan’s Atomic Monster. Cronin has already directed a successful horror franchise reboot with Evil Dead Rise, and now the Irishman tries his hand at property with an even longer and more beloved track record.

The premise involves a young girl who goes missing in the desert and returns eight years later with horrifying results, which gives strong Pet Sematary vibes. This one is set for an April 17 theatrical release.